title: Retrograde embolism from the descending thoracic aorta causing stroke: an underappreciated clinical condition.
abstract: The mechanism of retrograde aortic blood flow is a complex and underreported clinical phenomenon. Complex plaques of the aortic arch are considered high-risk sources of cerebral emboli.(1) Aortic plaques situated in the descending thoracic aorta are however often overlooked and in fact can be more frequent potential sources of cerebral embolism through the mechanism of retrograde aortic blood flow. We present the case of an elderly Caucasian female who experienced recurrent posterior circulation embolic strokes where the only possible underlying etiology was found to be an atheroma in the descending thoracic aorta, possibly showering retrograde emboli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01608, USA. Electronic address: lovids@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lovely
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chhabra
authors.forename: Rabin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niroula
authors.forename: Jayant
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phadke
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Spodick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed